@article{ref1,
title="Marijuana use and outcomes in adult and pediatric trauma patients after legalization in California",
journal="American journal of surgery",
year="2019",
author="Grigorian, A. and Lester, E. and Lekawa, M. and Figueroa, C. and Kuza, C. M. and Dolich, M. and Schubl, S. D. and Barrios, C. and Nahmias, J.",
volume="218",
number="6",
pages="1189-1194",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Marijuana has become legal in eight states since 2012. We hypothesized the incidence of marijuana-positive trauma patients and rate of mortality has increased post-legalization. <br><br>METHODS: A single level-I trauma center was used to identify patients screening positive for marijuana on urine-toxicology. Patients in the pre-legalization and post-legalization periods were compared. <br><br>RESULTS: In the pre-legalization cohort 9.4% were marijuana-positive versus 11.0% in the post-legalization cohort (p = 0.001). Marijuana-positive patients post-legalization had higher rates of critical trauma activation (20.0% vs. 15.0%, p = 0.01) and mortality (2.6% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.03). In the pediatric (age 12-17) subgroup, the incidence of marijuana-positive patients did not change after legalization (pre: 39.3%, post: 46.4%, p = 0.24). <br><br>CONCLUSION: The incidence of marijuana-positive trauma patients increased post-legalization. Adult marijuana-positive trauma patients post-legalization were more likely to meet criteria for critical trauma activation and have a higher mortality rate. A subgroup of pediatric patients had an alarmingly high rate of marijuana use. SUMMARY: The rate of marijuana use among trauma patients increased post-legalization in California. The rate of critical trauma activation also increased as well as the mortality rate.   Keyword: Cannabis impaired driving <br><br>Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0002-9610",
doi="10.1016/j.amjsurg.2019.08.020",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2019.08.020"
}